Thomson

It’s a heck of a way to run a pre-election campaign. On the eve of an expected election, politicians usually spend their time playing up good news, downplaying the bad, shaking hands and kissing babies.

Real Estate

Buying a home

Low interest rates may have Canadians debating whether to dip into RRSPs or take out a loan to buy a first home. Financial advisers say the decision may rest on the age of the home-buyer and their amount...

Development

Edmonton developers are working on a proposal that will eventually see 68,000 people living on what’s now mainly farmland south of Mill Woods. It’s the city’s last unplanned corner, almost 2,000 rolling hectares dotted with hundreds of ponds, marshes and sloughs.

The Edmonton-region housing market will slow down but still hold steady in 2015 despite an ongoing collapse in oil prices, says the Realtors Association of Edmonton. The group, which represents 3,200 real estate brokers and associates, issued its annual housing forecast Wednesday which predicted stability in the face of economic uncertainty with oil prices falling below $50 per barrel.

Before the next construction season, Edmonton aims to have a new team double-check every infill project before anyone moves in. “There’s a real skepticism about the changes because people say we don’t follow the rules we have now,” said Coun. Michael Walters. “Over time, we’ve built this mountain of mistrust and anger.”

A 22-home island in the middle of a man-made lake in southeast Calgary will become the city’s first gated enclave in more than a decade. Calgary Planning Commission’s decision on Thursday rejected a 2001 council directive banning gated communities, and set what some commissioners worry is a precedent. But Hopewell Residential had already had council’s […]

One of Edmonton’s oldest communities, Highlands extends north from Ada Boulevard, which snakes along the river valley, to 118th Avenue, between 50th and 67th streets. The area is mostly low-density residential with a mix of renovated historical homes (including such showpieces as the McGrath Mansion and Holgate House), infill homes and lots, and new developments. There are also commercial properties and apartments, mostly along 118th Avenue.

A unit in a brand-new Edmonton condominium building has sold for $2.625 million, breaking the MLS record in the city. Symphony Tower, scheduled to break ground next month near the legislature grounds on 106th Street, will be a 27-floor building with 143 suites.

Edmonton’s fast-growing population is forcing real estate prices up, says the Realtors Association of Edmonton. The group released Wednesday Multiple Listing Service (MLS) figures for August. Here’s a look at the month’s housing market by the numbers.

The city wants the complex process of buying a home made a little clearer. Officials are working with house builders, developers and real-estate agents to find ways of providing easy-to-understand information about Edmonton development plans.

It’s a seller’s market in the city, as Edmonton’s growing middle class and strong economy have led to a boost in both price and demand for housing. Condominium prices have increased the most, according to a report from real estate company Royal LePage. The average price of a condo in Edmonton has increased 7.8 per cent year-over-year to $236,429, while two-story homes also increased 3.8 per cent, to $372,112. Detached bungalows took a hit, dropping 0.2 per cent year-over-year to $350,401.